I clay/polish/wax my car about every 4 months......

can i wash the car and wax it in between that time to maintain the finish and keep a good coat of wax on the car?

or is it not wise to do this?

 

your car should be washed whenever it is slowing grime- prob once a week or so... and yes, you can wax over wax.

you should clay or polish only when the car needs it. with proper maintenance this can be once or twice a year.

 

thanks for the info.

i usually only clay polish and wax when i feel that the finish is rough.

right now its still smooth but its lacking that freshly waxed look. i think ill give it a good wash and throw on a coat

 

You can wash any time so long as the car shampoo you are using is not very strong, some shampoos can strip wax.

Also, invest in some quick detail spray. From the way you posted it, you do a full big detail 3 times a year, but inbetween, you do nothing for your car?

 

no i use quick detail spray, but it doesnt seem to last very long.... especially when its super hot out like it has been.

any recommendations for quick detail spray? i usually use poorboys spray and gloss.

 

Poorboys should get the job done ... do not expect any quick detail spray to replace wax or sealant. I use quick detail every time I come home, right after I come home, to remove dust, pollen, and small bugs / bird poo.

I DD my car, including in rain, and I probably only wash it once a month, just because even after I drive it through the rain, i can get it home and dry it, then sprits the paint with QD spray, and it looks as good as ever!

(FYI, I use Adam's Detail Spray, and sometimes Zaino Z6)

 

QD spray to keep dirt/grime/bugs from settling is a good idea, but you should really get in the habit of washing your car every week or so and adding wax as needed. if your wash techniques are good, i wouldn't worry about swirling from the additional washes.

 

im still doing the regular washes as well.... but like i said above, i want that freshly waxed look!

thanks for all the info

 

claying won't do anything bad to your paint. as long as you using the mild and not agressive you will be fine. i drive a beater now, my other car is garaged. I used clay/ wax monthly and wash weekly. If you want the freshly waxed look, I recommend frequent washes. At least twice a month, but once a week is perfect. This will give you car the waxed look. The less contaminants you allow to build up, the better the reflection will be because the paint is reflecting the light not the bonded contaminants. If you find that washing with hose is taking to long, you might want to look into a waterless wash system (of course its not waterless, but you dont use a hose0

 

I'm finding that, now that the S2000 lives in the garage most of the time, I don't "need" to polish or clay it nearly as often as I used to. It's been probably 6 months since I polished my car last, and there's a handful of swirls on it now, but it's staying mostly swirl free.

I put on a new coat of wax once a month.